Fire at former Gorton care home being treated as arson

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A fire that broke out at a 'derelict' former care home is being treated as arson it has been confirmed. A huge blaze broke out at the building just off Abbey Hey Lane in Gorton at around 9:30pm on Sunday night.

Flames could be seen lapping through the roof of the building with smoke billowing out across the area. It is understood that the building was St George's, a former residential home which has been boarded up and empty for a number of years.

Crews from Gorton, Ashton, Phillips Park and Whitehill fire stations spent several hours tackling the blaze at the 'large derelict detached property' before extinguishing it and remained at the scene into Monday damping down and making it safe. READ MORE: Plans to transform land close to Victoria Station into 15,000 homes and a 'river park' could involve compulsory purchase orders A joint police and fire service investigation was launched to determine the cause of the fire.

And Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have today confirmed it is now believed to have been started deliberately and is being treated as arson.